Electric switch.



E. 0. ENGELKE.

ELECTRIC SWITCH. APPLlcATloN man M An.2|,19u.

1,252,417., Patented Jan.8,1918;

f1, g/d 0, Evy e//re 7j!! 7271-75 2f @ma WM EVALD 0. ENGEL, 0F CLEVEL, OHI'IO.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

retenir.

Epeotfteation of Letters Patent.

Patented Jian. 8, im 3.

Application med Merch 21, 1917. Serial No. 156,244.

Ta all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that l, EvALn 0. Encarna, a subject of the King of Sweden, residing at Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga and State of hio, have invented certain new and useful lmprovements in Electric Switches, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in switches designed to make and break electric circuits, the object of the invention being the provision of a device of this character which is effective for the purpose and which can be manufactured at comparative small cost owingI to the simplicity of construction and assembling of the parts. With the above mentioned object in view the invention consists in the construction, combination, and arrangement of elements as described in the specification and pointed out definitely in the claims.

To facilitate the explanation of the invention the accompanying drawings are made a part of the specication, similar characters of reference being employed to designate similar parts.

lin the drawings Figure 1 is a plan view of the improved device-with the cover, op-

. erating button, and a spring element removed,

Fig. 2 is a section on line 2-2 of Fig. 1, lso showing`the parts that are omitted in ig. l.

Fig. 3 is a section on line 3--3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of a certain element of the device, detached, and Fig. 5 is a section on line 5-5, Fig. e, Fig. 6 being an underside view and Fig. 7 a section on line 7-7 of said element.

Fig. 7a is a plan view of a metallic contact member lhereinafter identified.

Figs. 8, 9, and 10 are, respectively, plan, edge, and sectional views or one of the elements detached, Fig. 10 being a section on line 10-10 of Fig. 8.

Figs. 11 and 12r are detail views of the operating spindle.

Fig. 13 is a perspective view of one of the contact members, and Fig. 14 is a plan view on a reduced scale illustrating a multiple switch.

In my simple and economical construction I employ a base member 1 of porcelain or other` suitable insulating material. r)The said member 1 is Preferably circular and is provided with an annular ledge 1*, an annular channel 1b and a central iet-.t fac@ la A disk 2 of suitable insulating material is adapted to bear on the face 1, and is pro`v vided with a central hole 2a Athat registers with a hole 1d in the member 1. For convenience of explanation the bearing -face ot the disk 2 will be considered as the bottom face and its opposite as the top face. So considered, the top face of member 2 is countersunk as shown at 2b to receive a plate 3, the said plate 3 being provided with projections 3a. The contour of the countersink 2b lits the contour of the member 3, thus it Will be Seen that when member 3 is seated in member 2 any annular movement of member 3 will-be imparted to member 2. the purpose of which will presently he lmade clear.

Embedded in a depression 2c in the bottom face of member 2 is a metallic plate 4, segments it of which project outwardly beyond the periphery of said member 2, the segmental portions 48 bearing on the shoulders 2d and thereby preventing annular movement of member i independent of member 2. The. thickness or depth of plate i is the same as the depth of the depression 2, therefore when assembled the member 2 and plate t bear on the face 1, and are adapted to revolve together thereon.

An operating spindle 5, preferably provided with a sleeve 6, is centered in and passes through members 1, 2, 3, and l and is retained in its connection therewith by suitable means, such as a. split washer 7 in engagement with an annular groove 7a. The spindle 5 is provided with keys 5b1 adapted to engage key-ways 3b in the member 3 and. thereby cause said member 3 to turn with the spindle 5 when said spindle is actuated by manipulating the button 5b.

Spring contact members or brushes 8 are connected with the base 1 by binding screws 9, located on the ledge 1a in pairs diametrically opposite, and in such position relative to the revoluble members that they will make and break contact with the segmental projections 4a when said revoluble members are rotated. lt will readily be seen that through the engagement of the keys 5a with the member 3, the engagement of member 3 with member 2, and the like relation of member 2 with member 4, when the spindle 5 is turned the member 4 is caused to turn and thereby make and break contact with the brushes 8.

The device is provided with a suitable or cover member 10, and a coiled spring 1l which bears on said cover and on the member 3. The tension of the spring 11 retains the movable elements in operative condition.

It vwill be noted that the novel construction of the improved switch permits its operation either to the right or left, which is a feature not common to other devices of this character. The switch being operative as yabove set forth, it is desirable that the member 5b be firmly attached to the spindle 5. This is provided for as shown in Fig. 12. A shoulder 5"I is formed on the spindle 5, the member 5d .which enters the button 5b being of less diameter thanI the body of the spindle.V The part 5d is `,provided with an eye adapted to receive a tongue 12; said tongue being a reduced portion of a blind head screw 12 which is threaded into the member 5".

vThe base member 1 is rovided with a' countersink 1e for thev terminal of the spindle 5, and also with countersinks 1f for the binding post retaining nuts 9. Electrical connections 13 pass from the binding posts 9 through openings 1g in the base member 1 to a countersunk channel 1h in said base.

What I claim and ters Patent is- 1. An electric switch comprising a base, a rotary spindle mounted in said base, a disk of insulating-material mounted on said spindle and having recesses in its upper and lower faces, a plate seated in the upper recess of said disk and rotatably movable therewith, a metallic plate seated in the lower recess of said disk and rotatably mov. able therewith, segments of said metallic plate extending outside the periphery of the t disk, projections on the spindle that engage grooves in the upper plate whereby said disk and plates are rotated, and contact members attached to the base arranged to make and opposite relation,

desire to secure by Letp break contact with thelextendinig. segments of the metallic plate as said plate'is rotated. 2.- In an electric switch the combination ot'A a base provided with .a ledge, binding posts on said ledge located in diametrically a rotary spindle mounted centrall in said base, a disk of insulating material1 mounted on said spindle and bearing on thebase member, a plate embedded in the upper face of said disk and rotatably movable therewith, said plate provided with key-ways, key members on the rotary spindle that engage said key-ways for rotating the disk, a metallic plate embedded in the lower face of the insulated disk and rotatably movable with said disk, segments of said metallic plate extending outside the periphery of the disk, and spring contact members connected with the binding posts arranged to make and break contact with the extending segments when the disk and plates are rotated.

3. An electric switch comprising a base member lhaving a cover member attached thereto, a rotary spindle mounted in said base and cover, a disk of insulating material mounted on said spindle and having recesses in its upper and lower faces, a plate seated in the upper recess of said disk and keyed thereto, a coiled spring bearing on said plate andA on the interior of the cover, a metallic plate seated in the lower recess of the insulated disk and rotatably movable therewith, segments vof said metallic plate extending outside the periphery of the disk, projections on the spindle that engage grooves in the upper plate whereby the disk and plates carried thereby are rotated, and

contact members attached to the base by binding posts and arranged to make and break contact with the extending segments of the metallic plate when said plate is rotated.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

' EVALD O. ENGELKE. 

